Franklin is home base for us, and Brentwood is right next door. Both are great places to build outdoor living space, and both have a few things worth knowing before you start.
Permits depend on where your address sits
Franklin and Brentwood each run their own building permit offices for homes inside city limits. If your home is in an unincorporated part of Williamson County, permits go through the county instead. Mailing addresses don't always match city limits, so we confirm the right office for your address before plans are drawn.
Covered porches, screened porches, decks and most structures attached to the house need a permit. We handle the plans and the permit submittal as part of the project.
Plan for your HOA
Many neighborhoods in both cities have an HOA with an architectural review step, and it often has to approve the design before the permit is submitted. Review boards usually care about rooflines, materials and colors matching the house. Matching the existing roof pitch and shingles, and choosing materials like cedar or painted trim that suit the home, tends to make approval smoother. We work through the HOA requirements with you, but the decision is theirs.
Sloped lots and walkout basements
Rolling terrain is part of what makes this area beautiful, and it shapes outdoor projects. A lot of homes here have walkout basements or a back yard that drops away from the house. That usually means an elevated deck or porch with taller posts and footings, stairs down to grade, and a chance to use the space underneath, like a patio kept dry by a waterproof deck system.
Drainage and clay soil
Middle Tennessee clay holds water. Patios, fire pit areas and footings all need proper base preparation and a plan for where water goes. Moving a downspout or adding a drain during the project is far cheaper than fixing a sinking patio later.
What tends to work well here
- Screened porches that tie into the existing roofline, so they look original to the house
- Cedar framing and tongue-and-groove ceilings for warmth
- Composite decking for low upkeep through hot, humid summers
- A patio or fire pit area off the porch to give the yard a second spot to gather
See finished examples in our Franklin and Williamson County projects.